The new NOBL FAR Series rims are the widest, strongest, and lightest they’ve ever made, and they come with lots of build options to turn them into complete wheels.
Designed to optimize aerodynamics with wide tires, they’re also exceptionally lightweight while claiming toughness inspired by the brand’s mountain bike rims. An impressive trio of features, so let’s see how they do it…
The FAR Series rims come in 40mm and 50mm deep options. Internal width for both is 29mm, which is on the upper end of what’s available. Compare that to Hunt 40 Limitless (26-27mm), Zipp 303 XPLR (32mm), Reserve 40/44 (27mm), and Parcours FKT (27mm), and you get the idea…they’re pushing the envelope, just not sealing it.
The other two interesting features are the semi-hooked bead wall, using a mini-hook for tire security and mounting/dismounting ease, and the bulbous shape that’s slightly wider just below the bead wall.
The former also helps create a broader face on the top of the rim to help prevent pinch flats, a good thing since these allow very low tire pressures when paired with very wide tires. See cross-section images below.
The latter helps improve aerodynamics with wider tires, too, smoothing air flow around the bulbous leading and trailing edges. They say this design also helps with crosswind stability.
They’re also really light. The FAR40 is just 360g, and the FAR50 is 400g. They say wheelsets can be built as light as 1,135g with Berd composite “string” spokes, and that “both exceed 140 J in lab impact testing, making them more impact-resistant than many mountain bike rims.” They’re backed with a lifetime warranty, too.
NOBL FAR Series Specs & Dimensions
NOBL FAR50 Specifications:
The FAR50 is their fastest rim, designed for high speed racing on open terrain, with a more teardrop shape for the best aerodynamics.
- Weight: 400g
- Depth: 50.0mm
- Inner Width: 29.0mm
- Outer Width (widest point): 38.0mm
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Tire Size: 38-57mm
- Hole Count: 24h
- Bead Design: NOBL’s Fusion Hook
- Price: $550 USD ($740 CAD)
NOBL FAR40 Specifications:
The FAR40 rim is rounder, making it a bit more compliant for rockier, rougher courses. Or races where there’s a ton of climbing and turns, where a little less weight is more important than all out aero.
- Weight: 360g
- Depth: 40.0mm
- Inner Width: 29.0mm
- Outer Width (widest point): 38.0mm
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Tire Size: 38-57mm
- Hole Count: 24h
- Bead Design: NOBL’s Fusion Hook
Wheel Build Options
Rims are sold a la carte to build your own wheels, or get them with any of the following options:
Hub Options: DT180, DT240, DT350, Onyx Vesper, i9 Solix R, Hope Pro 5, and Chris King
Spoke Options: Alpina Extralite, Sapim Bladed CX-Ray (in black and silver), and Berd
PolyLight spokes.
NOBL’s recommended builds include:
Best Value Wheelset: 1406g | 1606.80 USD // 2164.18 CAD
FAR40/50 mixer rims, DT350 hubs, and Alpina Extralite spokes
NOBL Racers Aero Wheelset: 1333g | 2023.80 USD // 2763.58 CAD
FAR50 rims, DT240 hubs, and Sapim CX-Ray spokes
Lightest Wheelset: 1135g | 2940.80 USD // 3965.08 CAD
FAR40 rims, DT180 hubs, Berd PolyLight spokes
